Category Danger level: Problem products

Battery electrodes are frequently made out of metal or metal compounds as lead, cadmium, nickel or quicksilver, which are dangerous for the environment and highly toxic for the human body. Acids from vehicle batteries and brines from emergency batteries are highly caustic. Lithium batteries can overheat or even explode. Consider the security information.

If possible use appliances without batteries as for instance appliances with solar cells. Use rechargeable batteries (Ni-Mh; Lithiumaccumulators).

Consider the information on www.shop-green.lu.

Dry batteries undergo chemical treatment in a special installation to retrieve zinc, iron and manganese salts. Lead accumulators are distillated. Lead and iron, nickel ans plastics are made available to the industry as raw material. Accumulator acids and brines are neutralized. Mercury batteries, NiCd and NiMh are also covered in specific installations. Nickel, cadium and mercury are also recovered.

IMPORTANT ! Not in the household waste !

Corona has accelerated it, the heat waves as part of climate change are doing the rest – the demand for private swimming pools has recently increased rapidly. But you should also think about the environment!

In Luxembourg, too, droughts are occurring more frequently as a result of climate change. A responsible and economical use of drinking water is therefore necessary. The energy consumption of pumps and filter systems should also not be neglected. Public swimming pools and bathing facilities are a sustainable alternative to your own pool. The water quality is managed and controlled here by professionals.

Other alternatives are swimming ponds or natural pools. A new trend are so-called living pools, which have biological water treatment.

Should you nevertheless operate a private pool, please note the following:

• First use mechanical cleaning methods (bottom vacuum cleaner, landing net, brush) or, in the case of larger systems, circulation via a filter system, such as a sand filter.
• Only use chemical agents such as flocculants, algaecides, overwintering agents, pool cleaning agents, agents to adjust the pH value and disinfectants as intended. Improper use endangers health and the environment. Pay attention to dosing instructions
• When storing, make sure that children or pets do not reach chemical products and do not store products (packaging can become brittle).

Dispose of hazardous packaging (hazard symbol), leftovers and old products via the SuperDrecksKëscht® mobile collection system or in the Resources Center. Also pay attention to the information on the labels and enclosed information leaflets during disposal.

And the pool water?

In general, you should discharge treated pool water into the sewer system. Of course, the municipal regulations must be taken into account. So check with your community.

Of course, if you haven’t added any chemicals, you can use the water to water your plants and green areas or to feed your rainwater cistern.

The following chemical products are used in pool maintenance:

• Disinfection: Reduction of microorganisms (especially fungi, bacteria) and other organic material (leaves, urine, dander).
• pH regulation: Dosing/application of chemicals depends on the pH value.
• Cleaning: Acidic or alkaline cleaners to remove mineral or organic deposits through continuous operation.